Connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "800" port, built-in AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet, as well as a Mini DisplayPort, which supports an external display in "extended desktop" mode.

The iMac "Core 2 Duo" (Early 2009) models are quite similar to the "Early 2008" models that they replaced, with similar external cases -- varying only by a "tapered foot" -- and likewise have the same glass cover that "joins precisely to the aluminum enclosure creating a virtually seamless front surface".

Although clockspeeds and configurations are similar as well, there are a few differences -- the Firewire "400" port on the Early 2008 models has been swapped for an additional USB 2.0 port on the Early 2009 models, Mini-DVI has been swapped for Mini DisplayPort, and the 2009 models also have DDR3 memory (rather than DDR2) with twice the official capacity, improved graphics on the higher-end configurations (like this one), and by default, shipped with a smaller keyboard that lacks the numerical keypad.

Also see:

What are the differences between the "Early 2009" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo models?

How do the "Early 2009" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo models compare to the "Early 2008/Penryn" models that preceded them?

The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the iMac9,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the iMac9,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the iMac9,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X "SuperDrive" with 4X double-layer burning (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) "writes DVD+R DL discs at up to 4x speed, writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD-RW at up to 6x and DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed, [and] reads CDs at up to 24x speed."

Site sponsor Other World Computing offers a "Data Doubler" mounting kit that may be of interest. It makes it simple to install a second hard drive or SSD in the optical drive bay of this iMac.

Standard Modem:

None

Standard Ethernet:

10/100/1000Base-T

Details:

External Apple USB Modem offered for US$49.

Standard AirPort:

802.11a/b/g/n

Standard Bluetooth:

2.1+EDR

Details:

AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.

Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?

USB Ports:

4 (2.0)

Firewire Ports:

1 (800)

Details:

Four USB 2.0 ports and one Firewire "800" port (7 watts). Apple advertises that this system has "six" USB 2.0 ports, counting four on the system and two on the keyboard.

Expansion Slots:

None

Expansion Bays:

None

Details:

N/A

Incl. Keyboard:

Apple Keyboard*

Incl. Input:

Mighty Mouse

Details:

*By default, this model comes with a small aluminum "ultrathin, compact wired keyboard" that lacks the numerical keypad.

Also see: How does the "ultra thin" keyboard provided with the "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models compare to a more traditional desktop keyboard? How does it feel?

Case Type:

All-in-One

Form Factor:

iMac (Early 2009)

Details:

The "Early 2009" iMac "Core 2 Duo" models use an all-in-one "aluminum and glass" enclosure on an aluminum stand that is essentially the same as the previous "Aluminum" iMac models, but the "supporting foot" is tapered toward the front rather than squared off.

Apple Order No:

MB420LL/A

Apple Subfamily:

Early 2009

Details:

The Apple order number should be unique to this system.

Apple Model No:

A1225 (EMC 2267)

Model ID:

iMac9,1

Details:

Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1225 Model Number, the 2267 EMC Number, and the iMac9,1 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

N/A

Battery Life:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Pre-Installed MacOS:

X 10.5.6 (9G2030)

Maximum MacOS:

Current*

Details:

*This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" and OS X 10.9 "Mavericks" except for Power Nap and AirPlay Mirroring functionality (which also requires an Apple TV 2nd Gen or later). It also supports the current version of OS X 10.10 "Yosemite" -- including Mac-to-Mac AirDrop capability -- but no other advanced features are supported.

Please note that OS X "Lion" 10.7 and subsequent versions of OS X -- like Mountain Lion, Mavericks, and Yosemite -- are not capable of running Mac OS X apps originally written for the PowerPC processor as these operating systems do not support the "Rosetta" environment. To run PowerPC applications on this Mac, it will be necessary to use Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" or earlier.

Also see: Which Macs are compatible with OS X Yosemite (10.10)? What are the system requirements? Which Macs support which features?

Minimum Windows:

XP SP2 (32-Bit)*

Maximum Windows:

7 (32-Bit)*

Details:

*Apple's Boot Camp 4 formally supports the 32-bit versions of Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. However, the system does meet Microsoft's minimum requirements for Windows 8 and readers have reported successfully running the 32-bit version of this operating system with appropriate drivers.

MacOS 9 Support:

None

Windows Support:

Boot/Virtualization

Details:

Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?

EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever.
EveryMac.com, and the author thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any
damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright
information please read and understand the Terms
of Use and the Privacy Policy before
using EveryMac.com. Use of any content or images without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.